Cody Dickinson: Homemade Album Review
Cody Dickinson co-founded The North Mississippi Allstars in 1996 with his brother Luther. Since then they’ve been nominated for a Grammy Award five times, released a dozen studio albums, and toured for three decades as a band and in support positions. American roots music has always been at the core of both the North Mississippi Allstars and Cody’s personal music. Homemade is Cody’s long-awaited debut as a solo artist that lays bare the musical landscape that has been percolating in both his conscious and unconscious mind. Cody played every instrument on the album in between taking care of two babies which he described as a lovefest. He also did all the songwriting for the album as well as producing and engineering it.
“Homemade Blues” is the opening song in keeping with the album title, which is exactly that. Multi-instrumentalist Cody Dickinson handles it all from vocals and keyboards to guitars and drums. The song follows a driving drumbeat with keyboard flourishes and guitar runs featuring Cody’s throaty vocals in chorus. It’s all about the joys of homemade wine.
“Smooth as lemonade, taste like turpentine
It’s homemade muscadine wine”
“Big City” has a Dixieland sound with a loping beat that creates a joyous melodious dance inspired by the essence of urban life. It features gritty blues driven guitar riffs and Cody’s soulful vocals propelling the song forward with a consistent beat and dynamic drum fills. The 3rd cut on the album is “Walk Right In” which features Tikyra Jackson on supporting vocals and has a carefree Grateful Dead sound. Stinging guitar transcends the driving beat with vocals that alternates between Cody and Tikyra before descending into a blowout finale.
“I never knew love until she came to my door
Now I’m a high plains drifter on the killing floor”
Song #4 is “Goodbye Albuquerque, Tuesday Night” which is a tribute as well as a farewell to the endless touring cycle that is part of a performing musician’s life. Inspiration was derived from artists like the Grateful Dead and Huey Lewis. The song is about the joy of homecoming after being on the road and the vocals were recorded at home with Cody’s one-year-old daughter Mavis sitting on his lap and periodically contributing her giggling gurgles in perfect time with the music. “Blackout Curtains” opens with a piano riff that sets the tone for the rest of the song. The haunting melody is anchored by a steady drumbeat while the lyrics are delivered in a raw emotive way that communicates a balance between vulnerability and strength.
“Got them old second line blues
Put on my boogie shoes”
“Easy” is an intense driving composition that opens with drums and shredding guitar peals segueing into Cody’s evocative vocals. The song’s lyrics describe a relationship that fell into place like a dream which the dynamic instrumentation manifests through the melody. “As Fast As It Comes” opens with exploding drumbeats establishing a driving rhythm punctuated by stratospheric guitar runs. The balance between Dickinson’s vocals and the instrumentation is perfectly maintained so that neither overshadows the other but harmonize together perfectly. The lyrics describe the illusiveness of composing a song from a fleeting idea.
“When I wake up at the end of the day
As fast as it comes is as soon as it goes away”
“Home Wrecker” is a good example of what Cody calls “West Coast boogie-woogie, hill country blues.” The driving beat and soulful vocals are dedicated to a woman by the name of Julianne. On a scale of one to ten for being danceable it gets a ten. “Worldwide” is a song about revolution incorporating the drive of “Grand Funk Railroad” and the intensity or the “MC5.” The frantic rhythm is propelled by a driving bass guitar and screaming vocals.
“Worldwide Revelation
Everbody in the congregation”
“Can’t Feel At Home” is the second cut to feature Tikyra Jackson on vocals with Cody. The gospel driven composition is performed in traditional call and response opening with a repentant tone and escalating into joyous revelry through multi-tracking vocals into a hypnotically transcendent conclusion.
“When angels beckon me
From heaven’s open door
I can’t feel at home in this world anymore”
Homemade is an innovative album by Cody Dickinson that masterfully explores American roots music. The album showcases his amazing talent as multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer. From the gritty riffs of “Homemade Blues” to the gospel influenced “Can’t Feel at Home” the album communicates with listeners and is universally relatable.
The Review 9/10
– Big City
– Walk Right In
– Easy
– Worldwide
– Can’t Feel at Home
The Big Hit
– Worldwide
